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A partnership between
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The McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership is a collaboration between McKinnon and the University of Melbourne and is Australia's only independent, non-partisan award for outstanding political leadership.
Established in 2017, this prestigious award celebrates political leaders who demonstrate exceptional vision, collaboration, courage, and ethical behaviour. By highlighting exceptional leadership the prize creates important national conversation, reinforcing trust in our political leaders and inspiring the future leaders which is critical for a well functioning Democracy.
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PRIZE CRITERIA
In each prize category, nominations are evaluated by an independent Shortlisting Committee and then a Selection Panel, against the same criteria. The criteria ensure leaders are recognised for the right reasons.
The criteria reflect a leader’s ability to put their country’s needs first, their vision, and their capacity to collaborate and embrace non-partisanship to deliver positive outcomes.
The McKinnon Prize criteria are:
The nominee has demonstrated innovative, farsighted, and practical thinking to identify and resolve important public policy problems.
The nominee has built coalitions to achieve positive outcomes across and beyond partisan divides.
The nominee has exhibited honesty, integrity, respect and compassion through a standard of conduct and behaviour that inspires public confidence.
The nominee has shown bravery to stand up for a worthy principle for the greater good, overcoming formidable opposition or sectional interests, regardless of risks to their own career advancement.
The nominee has demonstrably advanced the public good.
2025 nominations form
Nominations close Friday 28 November 2025.
For any questions, please contact [email protected]
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